Automatic lighter



Aug. 13, 1935. c, WAN Z 2,011,097

AUTOMATIC LIGHTER Filed Aug. 12, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 23 w 23 7 6 4 5 j2g Liv 14 0 1% Le Z CZczmnce Milli? c. WANTZ 2,011,097

AUTOMATI C LIGHTER Aug. 13, 1935.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 12. 1952 Patented Aug. 13, 1935 AUTOMATICLIGHTER Clarence Wantz, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Milwaukee GasSpecialty Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of WisconsinApplication August 12, 1932, Serial No. 628,475

21 Claims. (Cl. 153 -115 My invention relates to lighters for gasburners, and contemplates an improved lighter which will producesatisfactory results under all condi tions, particularly a lighter whichwill operate to re-ignite a burner from the simmering position, as wellas from other positions, and a lighter which will operate free fromcarbon monoxide, and at elevated and reduced gas pressures.

The present invention has todo particularly with lighters of theautomatic or gravity type as distinguished from the push button type oflighter, it being well known that in lighters of the automatic typeoperating under the gravity principle when the burner is opened or whenthe burner flame is extinguished with the burner in open position, afiow of gas passes from the burner to the pilot flame of the lighter andthe flame is conveyed from the pilot fiame to the burner to light or tore-ignite the same.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an arrangement embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 2-4 ofFigure 1 through one of the lighter hoods of the arrangement of Figure1, and showing the lighter tubes in elevation and portions of theburners at the outer ends of these tubes in section;

Figure 3 is a vertical section, partially in elevation and taken on theline 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a gas range with the lighterarrangement of Figures 1 to 3 applied thereto;

Figure 5 is a plan view of another arrangement embodying my invention;

Figure 6 is a vertical section through the lighter hood of theembodiment of Figure 5, and showing the lighter tubes in elevation, withone of these tubes partially broken away and a portion of the burner atthe outer end of the other tube in section;

Figure '7 is a vertical section, partially in elevation and taken on theline l--I of Figure 5;

and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view showing another manner of supporting theouter ends of the lighter tubes on the burners;

Referring to the drawings, a typical gas range is designated in itsentirety at 5 in Figure 4. In

the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 the usual gas manifold is illustratedat 6. The gas burners are illustrated at 1, these burners 1 being fedfrom the manifold 6 by the usual feed pipes 8, to which air is admitted,in the usual manner, at the ends nearest the manifold 6. The gaseousfuel is led into the feed pipes 8 by way of the nozzle pipes 9, in whichnozzle pipes 9 the usual gas cocks l are provided.

The range shown is of the cabinet type in which the gas cocks In, forthe top and oven burners, are arranged along a panel II at the front ofthe range, with the valves, mixing chambers, and piping concealed, andonly the handles of the gas cocks l0 exposed. The portion l2 of therange 10 is utilized for the open top burners, and an oven is indicatedat l3, this oven being provided with an oven burner, not shown.

The lighter comprises a feeder tube l 5 threaded into the manifold atis, this tube l5 leading from the manifold 6 and being provided with twotorch heads l1, l1, one betweenand in appropriate proximity to the frontpair of burners l, I, and the other between and in appropriate proximityto the rear pair of burners 'l,"l. At each torch head H the tube l5 hasan u ,wardly directed threaded opening in which a pilot tip I8 isthreaded. Each tip l8 has a relatively restricted tip port or orifice IQfor maintaining the desired pilot flame 20.

Lighter tubes 22 lead from the feeder tube I5 to the respective burners'l, the tubes 22 for the front burners being disposed in alignment andat substantially right angles to the tube IS, with one of the tubes 22extending from each of the opposite sides of the tube l5. The tubes 22for the rear burners 'l are similarly arranged. The outer end of eachtube 22 opens into the interior 23 of the adjacent burner I, and isthreaded into the body of the burner at 24. The opposite end of eachtube is flattened at 25 by forming or swaging together the sides of thetube to closethe ends of the tube and form flat supports therefor. Theseflattened ends 25 rest upon the feeder tube l5, and are notched orindented at 26 to receive the threaded portions of the pilot tips l8,the tips l8 being provided with integral flanges 28 between which andthe tube l5 the flattened ends 25 are firmly clamped upon threading thetips I8 into place. The engagement of the threaded portions of the tipsl8 in the notches or indentations 26 holds the adjacent ends of thetubes 22 firmly against lateral displacement.

A protecting hood 30 is mounted over each pilot tip l8. Each hood 30 hasa vent opening 3| at the top, and two lighter flame slots 32 in thecircular side wall in line with the respective burners l on the rangelf;-,The lower ends of the-slots 32 are enlargedatjiflto fit over thelighter tubes 22 as shown in Figure 3, and adjacent the feeder tube ISthe lower edge of the side wall of the hood has slots 35 fitting downover the tube I! as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The outer or free end ofthe feeder tube I5 is closed by a cap member 36 threaded or otherwisesuitably secured thereon, and preferably removable from the tube.

Adjacent or just short of the threaded end 24 each lighter tube 22 hasan upwardly opening lighter port 40 in its top walL'and extendinglongitudinally along the top of each tube 22 is a lighter slot 4|. Thetorch head ends of these slots 4| extend at 42 down around the roundedends of the tubes 22 to the flattened portions 25. The rounding of theends of the tubes 22 adjacent the pilot tip l8, and the extension of theadjacent ends of the lighter slots 4| down along the rounded ends to theflattened portions 25, causes the air and gas mixture which enters thetubes 22 from the respective burners 1, when the gas from the manifoldis supplied to the burners by opening of the cock or cocks III, toescape in close proximity to the pilot flame 20. This assures, under allconditions, ignition of the air and gas mixture which issues from thelighter slot 4| and lighter port 40, and ignition of the gas issuingfrom the ports 45 of the burners 1 under all conditions, andparticularly with the burner or burners in simmering position, as wellas in all other positions, and at elevated and reduced gas pressures.The extension of the lighter slots 4| down along the ends of the lightertubes 22 and into close proximity to the torch head is an importantaspect of the present invention.

When a burner I is to be ignited, the cock l associated with that burneris opened and the gaseous fuel or air and 'gas mixture enters the burnerready to be ignited at the burner ports 45. The air and gas mixturepasses from the burner into the tube 22 and escapes from the ports 40,4|. The gas or gas and air mixture escaping from the end of the slot 4|in close proximity to the torch head is ignited by the constantlyburning and relatively restricted pilot flame 20. The flame is extendedor conveyed back at 46 along the slot 4| to the burner end of the tube22, producing the flame 41 at the enlarged port 40, which in turnproduces the flame 48 at the adjacent burner port or ports 45, therebyfurnishing ignition to the burner. Similarly. in case the burner isunintentionally extinguished when the gas cock therefor is in simmeringor any other position, the gas and air mixture will enter the tube 22and escaping along the slot 4|, and particularly from the down-turnedtorch head end of the slot 4|, will be ignited by the pilot flame 20,and the flame will be conveyed back to re-ignite the burner as abovedescribed.

- The lighter tubes 22, in function, comprise a part of the respectiveburners, and with a properly adjusted gas and air supply will burn witha nonluminous flame, producing no CO or carbon depositions.

At the end of the feeder tube i5, near the manifold 6, an adjusterbushing 50 is provided. This bushing 50 is pressed into the interior orbore of the tube l5, so that its outer periphery has a gastight flt withthe bore of the tube, and extending axially through the bushing there isa relatively restricted port or passageway A pilot flame adjusting screw52 is threaded or passes diamet-" rically through the feeder tube l5 andis threaded into the bushing 50 at 53 to be projected into or withdrawnmore or less from the port or passage 5| for the purpose of metering oradjusting the quantity of gas which passes from the manifold or otherdesired form, and this screw enables supplying diminutive quantities ofgas to the pilot tips and controlling of the pilot flames 20 as pointedout above. I

The embodiment of Figures 5, 6 and 7 is identical in performance withthe preceding embodiment, and differs only in mechanical arrangement. Inthis case the lighter has a single torch head Ma. The feeder tube |5a isthreaded at |6a into the manifold 6a as before. The lighter tubes 22ainstead of being arranged at right angles to the tube |5a extendradially from the single torch head Ila to the respective burners la.The burners la have integral bosses 80 provided with openings 6| openinginto the interior of the respective burners la. The burner ends of thetubes 22a fit telescopically in the openings iii in the bosses 60, whichbosses form female supports for the burner ends of the tubes, whichtubes open into the interiors of the burners as before. The torch headends of the tubes 22a are flattened together at 25a, as before, and adisc or washer 62 supported on the tube |5a has a perforation throughwhich passes the threaded portion of the pilot tip |8a, which isthreaded into the feeder tube |5a as in the preceding embodiment. Thedisc 62 provides adequate support for the radially disposed flat ends25a of the tubes 22a, and a similar washer 63 overlies these flattenedends 25a. The threaded portion of the tip |8a also passes through anaperture in the center of the disc 63, and the tip |8a has an integralflange 2811 which, upon threading the tip tightly into place, engagesthe top of the upper disc 63 and clamps the flattened ends 25a tightlybetween the discs 52 and 63 and the discs and torch head ends of thetubes 22a firmly in place upon the tube l5a.

The tip |8a has the relatively restricted tip port or oriflce |9a formaintaining the desired pilot flame 20a, and the protecting hood 30a ismounted over the tip. This hood has a vent opening 3|a at the top, andfour lighter flame slots 32a are provided in the circular wall of thehood in line with the respective burners la. The lower ends of the slots32a are enlarged at 34a to fit over the lighter tubes 22a, and adjacentthe feeder tube |5a the lower edge of the side wall of the hood hasslots 35a fitting down over this tube. The lighter ports at the burnerends of the tubes 22a open upwardly through the bosses 60 at 65 toproduce the lighter flames 41a, which in turn produce the burner flames48a at the adjacent burner ports 45a, whereby the burner is lighted orre-ign'ited as before. In this case the lighter slots 4|a extend throughthe burner ends of the tubes 22a, and at their opposite ends extend, asbefore, down along the rounded or down-formed ends 42a of the tubes 22aand into close proximity to the constantly burning pilot flame 20a.

In this embodiment of the invention, the adjuster bushing 50a ispositioned adjacent the torch head end of the tube |5a, being pressedinto the interior or bore of the tube lie so that its outer peripheryhas gas-tight flt with the bore of the tube. An adjuster plug 68 isthreaded into the outer end of the tube |5a, and the pilot flameadjusting screw 52a is threaded axially through this plug 68. Theneedle-point end 69 of the adjusting or metering screw 52a cooperateswith the relatively restricted port 5|a to meter or adjust the quantityof gas which passes from the manifold M to the pilot tip Ila, thismetering or adjustment being accomplished by turning the screw 52a tomove the needle-point end 89 into or away from the port Fla. The bushing50a is counter-bored at its outer end at I0. r

The operation of the embodiment of Figures}, Band 7 is substantiallyidentical with the operation of the preceding embodiment, and,therefore, the description of the same will not be repeated.

- In the embodiment of Figure 8 the burner shown fragmentarily at lb hasthe burner ports 45b as before, but instead of the female supportsafforded for the burner ends of the lighter tubes by the bosses Bll ofthe preceding embodiment, the bosses 60b of this embodiment are reducedin size to fit tightly into'the outer ends of the tubes 22b, therebyaifording'male support for the adjacent end of the lighter tube 22b,which has the longitudinal lighter slot Nb, and the boss 60b has thelighter port 40b for producing the lighter flame 41b. Should the bumerbecome damaged because of removal or damage to the tube 221:, the burnerwill operate without the burner lighter in nearly the normal way.

I do not intend to be limited to the precise details shown or described.

I claim:

1. In combination, a pilot tip, and a lighter tube having an end turneddown adjacent said tip for clamping said tube to said tip, said lightertube having a lighter slot extending longitudinally along the top of thetube and down along the down-turned end of the tube into close proximityto said tip.

2. In combination, a burner, a pilot tip, a lighter tube having an endturned down adjacent said tip, said lighter tube having a lighter slotextending longitudinally along the top of the tube and down at one endalong the downturned end of the tube into close proximity to said tip,and means carried by said tip for clamping said down-turned end of saidtube thereto, said tube having a lighter port at the opposite end ofsaid lighter slot and in close proximity to said burner.

3. In combination, a pilot tip, and a lighter tube, said tube beingswaged to flattened form at one end with the top of the tube turned downto the flattened end, said end extending about and being engaged by saidtip, said tube having a lighter slot extending down along thedown-turned end of the tube and into close proximity to said tip.

4. In combination, a feeder tube, a pilot tip on said tube, a burner,and a lighter tube having support at one end on said burner and at theopposite end on said feeder tube, said lighter tube having an end turneddown adjacent the pilot tip and provided with a lighter slot extendingalong the tube and down along the down-turned end of the tube into closeproximity to said tip.

5. In combination, a feeder tube, a pilot tip 0 said tube, and a lightertube having support on said feeder tube and clamped to said tube by saidtip.

6. In combination, a feeder tube, a pilot tip threaded in said tube, anda lighter tube having an end down-turned and flattened, said flattenedend having support upon said feeder tube and clamped to said tube bysaid tip, the down-turned end of said lighter tube having a lighter slotin close proximity to said tip.

'7. In combination, a feeder tube, a pilot tip on said tube, and a pairof lighter tubes arranged in alignment and at right angles to the feedertube with their adjacent ends flattened and supported upon said feedertube and clamped to mid tube by said tip.

8. In combination, a feeder tube, a pilot tip on said tube, a pair oflighter tubes arranged in alignment and at right angles to the feedertube with their adjacent ends flattened and supported upon said feedertube and clamped to said tube by said tip, the lighter tubes havinglighter slots turned down at the feeder tube ends into close proximityto said tip, and a hood mounted over said tip and having lighter frameslots in alignment with the lighter slots in the tubes, the lower endsof said lighter flame slots being enlarged to fit over said lightertubes.

9. In combination, a feeder tube, a pilot tip on said tube, a plate heldin position upon the feeder tube by said tip, a plurality of lightertubes disposed radially with respect to said tip and having flattenedends supported upon said plate, and a second plate overlying theflattened ends of said lighter tubes and clamped in place by said tip.

10. In combination, a burner, a torch head, a lighter tube extendingfrom said torch head toward the burner, and a hood for said torch head,said hood having a lighter flame slot directed toward the burner, andthe bottom of said slot being enlarged to fit over the lighter tube.

11. In combination, a feeder tube, a pilot tip on said tube, a burner, alug extending laterally from the side of the burner, and a lighter tubehaving one end engaged with said lug for support upon the burner, saidlighter tube having means engageable between said pilot tip and feedertube 01")e supporting the opposite end of said lighter 12. Incombination, a feeder tube, a pilot tip on said tube, a burner, and alighter tube threaded at its burner end into the side of the burner andbeing clamped at its opposite end between said pilot tip and said feedertube.

13. In combination, a feeder tube, a pilot tip on said tube, a burner, ahollow boss extending laterally from the side of the burner, andalighter tube having telescoping engagement at its burner end with saidhollow boss and being clamped at its opposite end between said pilot tipand said feeder tube.

14. In combination, a feeder tube, a plurality of burners, a pluralityof torch heads along the feeder tube for the respective burnerscomprising pilot tips threaded into said feeder tube, lighter tubesextending from one torch head to certain burners, and otherlighter tubesextending from another torch head to other burners, said lighter tubesbeing clamped between said pilot tips and said feeder tube.

15.1n combination, a burner, means for supplying gaseous fuel to theburner, a feeder tube, a torch head on said tube, said torch headincluding a pilot tip, a lighter tube clamped between said pilot tip andsaid feeder tube and extending from said torch head to said bumer forconveying gaseous fuel from the burner to the torch head and a flamefrom the torch head to the burner, and means for adjusting the fuelsupply to said pilot tip independently of the fuel supply to the burner.

16. In combination, a burner, means for supto the burner, and meansfor'adjusting the fuel supply to said pilot tip independently of thefuel supply to the burner, said means comprising an adjuster bushing inthe feeder tube, and a pilot adjusting screw cooperating with a port insaid bushing.

17. In combination, a. burner, means for supplying gaseous fuel to theburner, a feeder tube, a torch head on said tube, said torch headincluding a pilot tip, a lighter tube clamped between said pilot tip andsaicl-feeder tube and extending from said torch head to said burner forconveying gaseous fuel from the burner to the torch head and a flamefrom the torch head to the burner, and means for adjusting the fuelsupply to said pilot tip independently of the fuel supply to the burner,said means comprising an adjuster bushing in the feeder tube, and apilot adjusting screw cooperating with a port in said bushing, saidadjusting screw being mounted in an adjuster plug threaded in' the outerend of the feeder tube.

18. In combination, a burner, a feeder tube, a

pilot tip on said feeder tube, and a lighter tube supported at one endon said burner and having its other end clamped between said pilot tipand said feeder tube.

19. In combination, a burner, a feeder tube, a pilottip thereon, a portin the side wall of said burner, and a lighter tube extending from saidburner port to said pilot tip, one end of said lighter tube beingflattened and clamped between said tip and said feeder tube.

20. In combination, a feeder tube, a pilot tip threaded into said feedertube, and a lighter tube having its end flattened and clamped betweensaid I tip and said feeder tube, said lighter tube having a longitudinalslot extending along its upper surface into proximity to said tip.

21. In combination, a feeder tube, a pilot tip threaded therein, a hoodfor said pilot tip supported on said feeder tube and having openings inthe side walls thereof, and lighter tubes extending from said tipoutwardly through said openings, the inner ends of said tubes beingflattened for clamping said ends between said tip CLARENCE WAN'IZ.

and said feeder tube.

